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Abstract

The production of Irish potato is
threatened by widespread acidity and nutrients deficiency in many parts of Rwanda. The
aim of this study was to determine effects of travertine in
improving selected soil properties an
d yield of potato in acidic so
ils of
Burera District. In September 2011 rainy season, three sources of
travertine (Musanze, Rusizi and Karongi) were evaluated in an
randomized complete block design (RCBD
) experiment. Soil properties baselin
e and lime materials quality (CaCO
3
, fineness,
effective CaCO
3
, pH and moisture) were first analyzed. Soil pH, exchangeable Al and available P were monitored at 6, 12 and 16
weeks after limes application (WAP). However, nitrogen and base saturation were analyzed at 16 WAP. The results showed that 2.8
t
ha
-1
of Musanze travertine and burned lime increased 0.62 and 0.
61 units of soil pH, respectively. Lime rate of 2.8 t ha
-1
of burned
lime, Musanze and Rusizi travertines
increased 1.72, 1.71 and 1.65 mg kg
-1
of available P, respectively.
On the other hand, burned lime
and Musanze travertine improved soil nitrogen up to 0.24% in th
e soils. The significant increase of available P after travertin
e
application was possibly induced by their ef
fects in raising soil pH and reducing excha
ngeable Al. The slight increase of N was
due to
the increase of soil pH which favors soil microbial activities fo
r organic matter deco
mposition. The similar effects of burned
and
travertine were attributed to their similar origin (travertine ro
cks). Therefore, this study recommends the use of travertine i
n acidic
soils of Rwanda.